Expressor



' @ch 6, 11936. W. L. KAUFFMAN. 2D 2,056,466

EXPRESSOR Filed Dec. 15, 1930 F 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 V EN TOR.

BY M

ATTORNEYS.

at 6, 1936. w. 1.. KAUFFMAN. 2D 5 EXPRESSOR Filed Dec. 15, 1930 4Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

@ct 6, 1936. w. L. KAUFFMAN. 2D 2,056,465

EXPRESSOR Filed Dec. 15, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M INVENTOILUZ ATTORNEYS.

Oct 9 1935 w. L. KAUFFMAN. 2D 2,056,46

EXPRESSOR Filed Dec. 15, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFKIE EXPRESSOR ApplicationDecember 15, 1930, Serial No. 502,424

22 Claims.

This invention is directed to expressors, particularly such expressorsas/are designed to express water from clothes. With such expressors aflexible wall, or bag, has been proposed and this, operating with areceptacle, receives pressure from a pressure-exerting fluid, such aswater from a spigot and exerts this pressure on the clothes, thusforcing the water from them and drying them. One of the problems of suchexpressors is the sealing of the flexible wall with relation to its seatand the present invention is designed to simplify this feature. Anotherproblem involved in this structure is the manner of discharging theexpressed liquid so that it may be readily directed to differentdirections. Another problem involved in this structure is the manner ofsecuring and forming the cover and the present invention is directed toimprovements as to this. Another problem involved in this structure isthe supply and discharge of the pressure liquid from the receptacle'in aconvenient manner and the present invention is directed to improvingthis feature. Other features of the invention will appear from thespecification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings as follows:-

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 2a. a section of the supply and discharge controlling means.

Fig. 3 a sectional View of one half of the re- I ceptacle, in section,showing the bag and parts prior to the delivery of pressure fluid.

Fig. 4 a similar view showing a half of the receptacle in sectionindicating the position assumed after pressure is delivered to the bag.

Fig. 5 a sectional view of the peripheral rib on the flexible wall, orbag.

Figs. 6 and 7 show sections of alternative constructions in released andlocked positions respectively.

9 marks a wash tub, 2 an expressor receptacle, 3 a ring around thereceptacle secured to the tub, and t a bracket also secured to the tubstructure and securing the receptacle. A flexible wall 5, preferably inthe form of a bag, is suspended in the receptacle and receives theclothes from which moisture is to be expressed. This is provided with anannular rib 6 which is designed to initially rest in an annular recessll along the upper edge of the receptacle. The receptacle has a cover 8.This cover is secured with the walls of the receptacle by a locking ring9. This locking ring has an annular groove 9a which engages an annularlip 9b around the upper edge of the receptacle wall. The ring is splithaving a hinge III at one side and a latch l I at the opposite side.

The central part of the cover is perforated at I2 to permit thedischarge of the expressed liquid. A collector It, in the form of adome, has vertical surrounding walls M which engage an annular shoulder8a on the cover. The collector is secured and clamped in place by ascrew l5 which extends through a nut IS. The screw is operated by a wingnut I! which wing nut forms a handle for the cover. A spout l8 extendsfrom the collector and delivers the discharge from the expressor. Thisspout preferably discharges to a fixed drain board l9 which surroundsthe upper part of the wall of the receptacle. This drain board has onespout discharge 20 comparatively wide leading to the tub and two branchdischarge ways 2| and 22. The discharge spout l8 may be rotated so as todirect the discharge to any one of these drain ways depending on whereit is desired to direct the final discharge of the wash water extrudedfrom the clothes.

A supply pipe 23 leads to the receptacle. This is controlled by thefollowing means: A valve and siphon body 24 is secured to the supplypipe 23. This body is secured to an ordinary house spigot 25. A valveplug 26 is arranged in the body. This has an angle way 21 and directs adischarge through the Venturi-shaped outlet 24a. The ejector actionthrough the Venturi is induced by a jet delivered through a way 28 inthe cock opposite the Venturi opening when the cock is turned todischarge position. By turning the surface 29 of the valve plug over theinlet passage 24b the supply may be cut off.

The cover is provided with a complementary seat portion 8b which forms abeveled inner engaging surface, or seat surface for the rib. The rib issupplied with a lip 6a which initially engages the beveled surface 8b.

It will be understood that the rib 6 is normally of slightly greatercircumference than the annular groove 1 so that there is a slightcompression of this rib in placing it in the recess. This compressionholds the rib in place initially in the operation of the device.

In operating the device, the clothes are placed in the bag 5, the coverset in place, the locking ring extended around the cover and secured bythe latch. The discharge spout is adjusted to the right discharge way,if it is not already properly adjusted, and water under pressure isturned into the bottom of the receptacle, thus. delivering pressureagainst the bag. With the initial water pressure the liquid seeks anoutlet back of the rib 6. There is also a slight tendency for adischarge of water past the lip 8b due to the initial compression of theclothes and the fact that the rib is slightly below the outlet openingsin the top I2. With the initial pressure on the rib 6 it is rolled fromthe position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4-and thiscloses the annular clearance outlet slot, or opening, between the edgeof the cover and the edge of the receptacle wall and this rib actingsomewhat as a check valve is seated with greater pressure as thepressure of the operating fluid increases so that there is a sealing andseating of this peripheral rib automatically by the mere introduction ofthe pressure liquid.

The pressure liquid operating on the bag gradually compresses it and ifthis wall is of bagshape this compression takes place largely in aradial direction. The liquid expressed is delivered through theperforated top I! and finds a discharge from the spout l8. A slightinterval is necessary to efiect this discharge, apparently the capillaryaction of the water in the clothes resisting the expressing of theliquid.

While I have shown a manner of creating a preponderance of pressure byexerting a pressure above atmosphere at the outside of the bag, it willbe understood that by reducing the pressure on the discharge side andutilizing atmospheric pressure on the bag that this difference ofpressure in a measure may be accomplished in this manner. The sealingeffect will be exactly the same, however this difierence of pressure iscreated.

In the alternative construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the receptacle44 has an annular recessed ring 4411. around its upper edge. This ringhas an interior inclined surface 45. A bag 46 is provided with a rib 41at its upper edge. This rib has a beveled surface corresponding to theinclined surface 45 and is normally of slightly larger diameter than arecess in the ring 44a so that it springs through its resiliency intoengagement with the beveled seat. A cover 48 has a downwardly extendinglip 49. This lip has an inturned edge 50 which has a periphery whichwill just clear the inner edge oi the rib 41. The lip is slightlyinclined in the opposite direction from that of the surface 45 and therib 41 is slightly inclined on its inner surface to space it slightlyfrom the lip 48 initially. The cover 48 has the usual perforations andwhen put in place rests initially on the upper edge of the ring 44a. Acollector is secured on the cover and operates in any well known manner.

In Fig. 6 the parts are shown with the cover in place prior to theintroduction of pressure below the bag. Upon the introduction ofpressure the initial action of this pressure is to force the rib 41upwardly and this acting on the taper 45 immediately moves intoengagement with the lip 49, the inward movement of the rib 45 beingsufficient to bring the shoulder at the bottom of the inner periphery ofthe rib over the hook 50 so that the rib is engaged by this hook as thecover lifts through the indirect pressure exerted by the clothes. Itwill be understood that the water pressure acting at the outside of therib gives a slight preliminary action which forms a positive lock. Thusthe cover is not only locked by the rib acting under the pressure of thepressure fluid. or water, but the rib also completely seals thereceptacle as against the pressure water and the bag with relation tothe cover. Thus the whole operation is entirely automatic. This devicewill operate on any differential of pressure within the bag and thereceptacle at the outside of the bag. As shown, preferably this isaccomplished by the introduction 2of water under the bag, as indicatedin Fig.

In order that the cover may resist any initial tendency to lift, Iprovide a yieldingly resilient bail 52 which is hinged on the receptacleand. swung over a post 53 extending upwardly from the cover. It will benoted that the locking ring shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is tapered with aninclination tending to draw the ring toward closed position. Thus anysimple latch may be used for closing it.

What I claim as new is:-

1. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle having a cover; abag including a flexible pressure wall having annular engagement withthe receptacle; means delivering fluid under pressure to the receptacle;and a rubber ring on the bag exerting sealing pressure between the walland receptacle and cover under the fluid pressure in the receptacle.

2. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,the receptacle having an annular recessed seat and the cover having anannular seat opposed to the recessed seat; v

a flexible wall in the receptacle having an annular rib at itsperiphery; said annular rib being resilient and expanding into saidrecessed seat initially and under action of a fluid pressure, having itsseating pressure on the seat of the cover and the seat on the receptacleincreased as the pressure in the receptacle increases thereby sealingthe wall relatively to the receptacle.

3. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,the receptacle having an annular recessed seat and the cover having anannular seat opposed to the recessed seat; a flexible wall in thereceptacle having an annular rib at its periphery; said annular ribbeing resilient and expanding into said recessed seat initially andunder action of a fluid pressure, having its seating pressure on theseat of the cover and the seat on the receptacle increased as thepressure in the receptacle increases thereby sealing the wall relativelyto the receptacle, and said rib having an annular lip initially seatingon the seat of the cover.

4. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,said receptacle having an annular recessed seat and the cover having anopposing seat; and a flexible bag having a locking means at its upperend including a resilient locking ring between and axially opposing saidseats and locking the cover on the receptacle through its action withrelation to said seats when fluid pressure is applied to the bag.

5. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,said receptacle having an annular recessed seat and the cover having anopposing seat; and a flexible pressure wall having a locking and sealingmeans at its upper end including a resilient locking ring opposing saidseats and sealing and locking the receptacle on the cover through itsaction with relation to said seats when fluid pressure is applied to thebag.

6. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,said receptacle having an annular recessed seat and the cover anopposing seat; means for supplying fluid under pressure to thereceptacle; and a flexible pressure bag, having at its upper edge,locking means; said means including a locking ring positioned betweensaid seats and movable with one seat for movement, under the action ofthe pressure fluid, into locking and sealing engagement with the otherof said seats.

7. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,said cover and receptacle having opposing locking seats; a flexible wallin the receptacle having annularv engagement with the receptacle; meansfor supplying fluid under pressure to the receptacle; and a resilientsealing and locking'ring forming an annular rib on the flexible wallarranged between the seats on the cover and the receptacle, andautomatically locking the cover on the receptacle, through itsdistortion and engagement with said seats, through the action of fluidpressure, said ring releasing the cover when relieved of distortingpressure.

8. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,said cover and receptacle having opposing locking seats; a flexible wallin the receptacle having annular engagement with the receptacle; meansfor supplying fluid under pressure to the receptacle; and a resilientsealingand locking ring forming an annular rib on the flexible wallarranged between the seats on the cover and the receptacle, andautomatically locking and sealing the cover on the receptacle, throughits distortion and engagement with said seats, through the action offluid pressure, said ring releasing the cover when relieved ofdistorting pressure.

9. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,said cover and receptacle having opposing locking seats, the lockingseat on the receptacle being tapered and the locking seat on the coverhaving an outwardly extending shoulder at its lower edge; and a flexiblebag in the receptacle having at its upper edge means including aresilient sealing and look-- ing ring arranged between said seats on thecover and the receptacle, and moving, through its distortion on thetapered seat on the receptacle into locking position over the shoulder,under the action of pressure in the receptacle, thereby looking thecover on the receptacle, said ring permitting the closing of the coverwhen relieved of pressure.

10. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,said cover and receptacle having opposing sealing and locking seats, thelocking seat on the receptacle being tapered and the locking seat on thecover having an.

outwardly extending shoulder at its lower edge; and a flexible bag inthe receptacle having at its upper edge means including a resilientsealing and locking ring arranged between said seats on the cover andthe receptacle and moving through its distortion on the tapered seat onthe receptacle, into locking position over the shoulder, under theaction of pressure in the receptacle, thereby locking and sealing thecover on the receptacle, said ring permitting the closing of the coverwhen relieved of pressure.

11. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle including a cover,said cover and receptacle having opposing locking seats, the lockingseat on the receptacle being tapered and the locking seat on the coverhaving an outwardly extending shoulder at its lower edge; a flexiblewall in the receptacle having annular engagement with the receptacle;and a resilient sealing and locking ring in the form of a rib on theedge of the wall, arranged between said seats on the cover and thereceptacle, and moving, through its distortion on the tapered seat onthe receptacle,

into locking position over the shoulder under the,

action of pressure in the receptacle thereby locking the cover on thereceptacle, said ring permitting the closing of the cover when relievedof pressure.

12. In an expressor, the combination 01 a receptacle including a cover,said cover and receptacle having opposing sealing and locking seats, thelocking seat on the receptacle being tapered. and the locking seat onthe cover having an outwardly extending shoulder at its lower edge; aflexible wall in the receptacle having annular engagement with thereceptacle; and a resilient sealing and locking ring in the form of arib on the edge of the wall and arranged between said seats on the coverand the receptacle and moving, through its distortion on the taperedseat on the receptacle, into lockingposition over the shoulder under theaction of pressure in the receptacle thereby locking the cover on thereceptacle, said ring having a sealing inner surface engaging the coverand sealing the cover on the receptacle, and said ring permitting theclosing of the cover when relieved of pressure.

13. In an expressor, the combination of a. receptacle; 2. flexiblepressure wall having annular seating engagement with the receptacle; a

perforated cover for the receptacle having an an-.

nular seating wall; a collector having an annular seat engaging the seaton the wall of the cover; and a spout leading from the collector.

14. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle; an expressing wallhaving an annular seat closing with the receptacle; a perforated coverfor the receptacle; a collector seating on the cover and rotativelymovable thereon; a spout leading from the collector; and a screw forseating the collector.

15. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle; an expressing wallhaving an annular seat closing with the receptacle; a perforated coverfor the receptacle; a collector seating on the cover and rotativelymovable thereon; a spout leading from the collector; and a drain platehaving ways receiving and directing the discharge from the spout.

16. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle; a flexiblepressure wall having annular engagement with the receptacle; and aperforated cover including a collector having a spout thereon androtatable to different positions relatively to the receptacle.

17. In .an expressor, the combination of a receptacle; a flexiblepressure wall having annular engagement with the receptacle; aperforated cover including a collector having a spout thereon rotatableto difierent positions relatively to the receptacle; and a drain platehaving ways receiving and directing the discharge from the spout.

18. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle having a cover; aflexible pressure wall having a peripheral rib; means delivering fluidpressure to the receptacle; 2. seat on said receptacle; and a seat onsaid cover, said rib being exposed to fluid pressure and fluid-pressedinto sealing engagement with said seats when fluid under pressure isdelivered into said receptacle.

19. In an expressor, the combination of a receptacle having a cover; aflexible pressure wall having a peripheral rib; means delivering fluidpressure to the receptacle; a seat on said receptacle; and a seat onsaid cover, said rib being resilient and expansible and expandingthrough its resiliency into initial sealing position on the receptacleseat and completing the seal on the' seats through pressure of the fluidin the recap-- tacle.

20. In an expressor, the combination 01 a receptacle having a cover; aflexible pressure wall having a peripheral rib; means delivering fluidpressure to the receptacle; a seat on said receptacle; and a seat onsaid cover, the joint between the cover and the receptacle being betweensaid seats, said rib being exposed to fluid pressure and fluid-pressedinto sealing engagement with said seats when fluid under pressure isdelivered into said receptacle.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination of an open topreceptacle; a flexible open top bag mounted in the receptacle and havingan annular rib on its upper edge; a rigid sealing member adjacent to therib, said member and receptacle forming annular seating surfaces for theing on the rib will force the rib bodily against the sealing surfaces toform a fluid tight seal, and means for holding the sealing memberagainst upward movement.

22. In an expressor, the combination 0! a receptacle having a cover;means delivering fluid under pressure to said receptacle, and a flexiblebag having sealing means at its upper edge, including a ring of rubberof greater cross-section than the thickness of the wall of the lowerportion of the bag, said sealing means seating on the receptacle andcover and sealing the bag and the receptacle at the cover against fluidin the receptacle, said ring having a substantial portion exposed tofluid pressure opposite its sealing surraces and having its sealingengagement increased as the pressure of the liquid in the receptacleincreases.

WALTER L. KAUFFMAN, II.

